Page 124 - Safe Wrestling
P. 124
Marina Dobnik, Rok Vatovec, and Matej Plevnik
even in cases where statistically significant reductions in injury incidence
have not yet been demonstrated. From an applied perspective, the most
defensible approach is therefore to regard these programmes as struc-
tured frameworks that coaches can implement consistently, adapt ac-
cording to athlete level and discipline-specific demands, and progres-
sively refine using information derived from movement screening, injury
surveillance, and training-load monitoring.
Overall, structured preventive warm-ups in combat sports are most
likely to be effective when they are time-efficient, sport-representative,
regularly implemented, and delivered with a strong emphasis on move-
ment quality and coaching feedback. Future research should prioritise
well-powered prospective intervention studies, particularly in underrep-
resented groups such as women and recreational athletes, in order to
clarify which programme components contribute most strongly to injury
reduction and how implementation strategies can maximise adherence
and long-term sustainability.
References
Bacon, W., & Wilson, R. (2024). MASS-12: Evidence-based Martial Arts
Striking Sports Injury Prevention Programme. Martial Arts Studies,
(15), 14–24.
Bell, J., Johnson, M. I., Friesen, K., Falahati, S., & Jones, A. (2024). An
evidence-based injury prevention warm-up in grappling sports. In-
ternational Journal of Martial Arts, 9, 27–49.
Bizzini, M., & Dvorak, J. (2015). FIFA 11+: An effective programme to pre-
vent football injuries in various player groups worldwide – A narrative
review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(9), 577–579.
Del Vecchio, F. B., Farias, C. B., De Leon, R. C., Rocha, A. C. C. A., Gal-
liano, L. M., & Coswig, V. S. (2018). Injuries in martial arts and combat
sports: Prevalence, characteristics and mechanisms. Science & Sports,
33(3), 158–163.
Eser, C., Bıyıklı, T., Byrne, P. J., Duggan, J. D., Esformes, J. I., & Moody, J.
A. (2025). The impact of the FIFA 11+ neuromuscular training pro-
gramme on ankle injury reduction in football players: A systematic
review and meta-analysis. Muscles, 4(3), 30.
Esteban-García, P., Abián-Vicen, J., Sánchez-Infante, J., Ramírez-delaCruz,
M., & Rubio-Arias, J. Á. (2024). Does the inclusion of static or dynamic
stretching in the warm-up routine improve jump height and ROM in
physically active individuals? A systematic review with meta-analysis.
Applied Sciences, 14(9), 3872.
124

